Discharge Refrigerant Circuit With A/C Service Station
- If it is suspected that chemicals were added to the refrigerant circuit to seal leaks, do not connect the A/C service station and do not extract the refrigerant.
- Chemicals that seal leaks in the coolant circuit form deposits that affect the function of the A/C system and lead to failure of the A/C system and the A/C service station.
- Inform that customer that there are substances in the A/C system that are no approved by Volkswagen. This A/C system cannot be drained or serviced in the workshop.
The chemical materials (stop leak additive) for sealing leaks in the refrigerant circuit offered on the market are not approved by VW Audi AG. There are no permanent-, validity or material compatibility tests. Therefore damage or malfunctions in the A/C system or the A/C Service Station cannot be excluded.
The stop leak additives offered on the open market have different physical and chemical properties, which can impair the function of the A/C system and the A/C Service Station and can even shut down the system completely.
VW does not approve the use of chemicals to seal leaks in the refrigerant circuit.
Chemicals used to seal leaks in the refrigerant circuit often react with air and the moisture in it. They cause deposits in the refrigerant circuit and the A/C service station and malfunctions in valves and other components that they come in contact with. These deposits cannot be removed completely from the components.
Chemicals used to seal leaks in the refrigerant circuit usually cannot be detected from outside. The label that should be applied to identify it is often missing. Therefore be careful when working with if you do not know its service history.
Accessories offer containers used to separate out these chemicals (used to seal leaks in the refrigerant circuit). Because VW does not approve the use of these chemicals, there is no evidence of the effectiveness of these filters.
High voltage within the high voltage system. Danger of electric shock in the A/C compressor!
Disable high voltage system.
- Work procedure may vary depending on the type of tools selected (the tool-specific operating instructions should therefore be followed).
- The refrigerant circuit is to be discharged if parts of the refrigerant circuit are to be removed, if there is any doubt about the quantity of refrigerant in the circuit or if safety precautions so require.
- All the necessary usage information for working with the refrigerant service station can be found in the service station operating instructions.
Draining:
-- Turn off the ignition.
-- Connect A/C service station in line with operating instructions to vehicle service connections, refer to REFRIGERANT CIRCUIT and start up service station.
There is a possibility of refrigerant oil being extracted from the refrigerant circuit together with the refrigerant. To ensure compressor lubrication, the refrigerant oil in the circuit must be topped up with fresh oil, refer to DESCRIPTION AND OPERATION .
On vehicles with an A/C compressor without a magnetic clutch (with A/C Compressor Regulator Valve -N280-), the engine should run < 10 minutes with the refrigerant circuit empty and closed (the A/C compressor also runs continuously). The engine RPM must not exceed 2000 RPM.
On vehicles equipped with an A/C compressor with A/C clutch, the engine must be started since the A/C Pressure Switch -F129- or High Pressure Sensor -G65- (checks whether refrigerant is present in the circuit) switches off the A/C clutch as soon as there is no refrigerant in the refrigerant circuit.